The Spanish Beauty and the Beast – The Manchester St Murder

Articles, Lost Christchurch

For £55, reports The Press in 1909, an Antipodean may travel to London and back via the Cape, and secure a very pleasant holiday. For boarders and employees at Alfred and May Burn’s ‘Silver Grid’ b…

Handsome and substantial – Warner’s Hotel, Cathedral Square

Articles, Lost Christchurch

On the north east corner of Cathedral Square, the Commercial Hotel, owned by John Etherden Coker (1832 – 1894) was opened in 1863. The name Warner’s was not used until the hotel’s…

D.I.C. Opens for Business in Cashel Street, 1884

Articles, Lost Christchurch

“…the advent of a new Company that will sell goods at reasonable profits for cash…” To the Editor of the Press. Dear Sir, All undertakings of a public beneficial nature, whi…

“The Sick, Faint Feeling of Violent Shakes,” Jane Deans

Articles, Lost Christchurch

For one of our city’s most famous early women settlers, poor health had marred not only her voyage to New Zealand but also her arrival to her new home at Riccarton. From the moment Jane Deans…

Shaves & Shampoos on the North West Corner of Cathedral Square

Articles, Lost Christchurch

It’s just before 3pm on a late summer day in 1914. Prolific Christchurch photographer, Steffano Webb is setting up his camera equipment inside the gents’ hairdressing saloon of well kno…

Early Days in Sydenham, how the Pioneers Fared

Articles, Lost Christchurch

An interesting contribution to the history of the early days of Christchurch, and especially of the district now known as Sydenham, was made by Mr Henry Ffitch, of Glandovey road, Fendalton, in a s…

Going Under Canvas at Sumner – 1890s

Articles, Lost Christchurch

During the past year or two it has been customary for a number of parties of young men to go into camp at Sumner for the summer months, and to come up to Christchurch during business hours. Special…

Electric Trams – “Horses No Longer Required”

Articles, Lost Christchurch

Christchurch was the last of the four cities to introduce electric trams. They had tried to introduce the system in 1902, but it was prior to the amalgamation of the boroughs, so with the advent of…